Cities Push Issue Forward

Rural Ambulance Service Debate Unresolved

A pair of cities want Benton County to resolve the rural ambulance service debate, telling county officials 2013 may be the last year they provide service outside their city limits.

At A Glance

County Reimbursement

Benton County appropriated $100,000 to reimburse ambulance service providers in 2011, increased that to $150,000 for 2012 and raised the amount again to $300,000 for 2013. The county appropriation is divided among the cities of Rogers, Springdale, Bentonville, Bella Vista, Siloam Springs, Pea Ridge, Gravette and the Northeast Benton County Fire Department, which provides service to members of the organization’s EMS district. Residents of the district pay annual fee for the service. The providers are reimbursed according to the volume of calls they respond to that result in a patient transport.